Southside Pothole Becoming a Sinkhole?

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It started as a pothole, and now it's a community concern.

"They fixed it about two months ago, but now it is worst than it was before," says Dan Hoffman.

Hoffman lives at the intersection of Kusaie Road and Happy Vale Road, and has watched the problem develope into a road hazard.

Hoffman says, "People have to go around and don't know if they should drive on the left or the right, and that man has a hard time getting out of his driveway."

The city has placed barricades around the enlarging pothole, but Hoffman says that's the only thing city crews have done.

"They haven't been back since they did that," he says.

Hoffman and his neighbors are tired of the pothole and what they call a road safety hazard.

"We would like it repaired, decently and not waste anymore taxpayers money," says Hoffman.

City spokesman Kristen Beach told On Your Side:

"Our Right-of-Way and Grounds Maintenance Division tells me there are multiple utility lines in this area, including JEA sewer and city stormwater drainage. The issue was filed with the ROWGMD, which also worked with JEA to ensure that the problem did not exist with the sewer pipe. As the resident mentions, the ROWGMD made some repairs some time ago. However, based on a review done this morning, the compromise has now appeared on the other side of the city drainage pipe. After some diagnostics, including a dye test in which dye is injected to determine a start and end to the system compromise, it appears there is a larger, more persistent problem with the city infrastructure. The in-house crews are working on a temporary repair but will likely need to keep the area barricaded until the contractor can be lined up to fully address it in about two weeks."

CONSUMER TIP

If you're having a pothole problem in your neighborhood, contact the city of Jacksonville at 630-CITY or (2489). If you live outside of Duval County, contact your Public Works department.

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